New release Montalto Mornington Peninsula reds

The new release reds from Montalto in the Mornington Peninsula from the 2015 vintage are fresh out. The 2015 vintage in the region saw even temperatures in September through December, a warm to hot January and February and a dry and mild March. Yields for Montalto were fairly low at around 1.4 tonnes per acre for pinot noir, and a bit higher for shiraz (2.1 tonnes per acre). I recall the season as being quite an even one and nothing like the extreme couple of years we had locally prior to 2010.

Pennon Hill Pinot Noir 2015, abv 13.5%, $32

The Pennon Hill is Montalto's regional offering with grapes mostly sourced from Merricks North and Red Hill South. This is a wonderfully aromatic wine, with notes of bacon, herbs, redcurrant, tea trees and fresh cut rosemary. The palate reminds of sweet and sour cherries, with a crunchy piquant impression and fresh acidity. Lovely drinking. Rating: Good

Montalto Estate Pinot Noir 2015, abv 13.6%, $50

The estate pinot noir is also sourced from vineyards across the Peninsula, with grapes from Main Ridge, Red Hill, Merricks and Tuerong. This wine is immediately a step up from the Pennon Hill, with more complex bacon, red plum and cherry aromatics. The palate has a lovely balance and harmony to it. Well made. Rating: Good to Very Good

Montalto Estate Shiraz 2015, abv 14.1%, $50

This wine is a single vineyard wine from Tuerong. Straddling a cooler and warmer climate shiraz in style, it has aromatics of baked red currants and tea trees, the latter a local character. There's plenty of glycerol on the palate, with a medium bodied impression. Rating: Good